There’s extra to Zebby Matthews’ recreation than an elite strike-throwing means, although he actually possesses that. As our lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen put it final summer time, the 24-year-old Minnesota Twins right-hander “has barely walked anybody the final half decade.” That wasn’t an exaggeration. Matthews issued one free go each 9 innings as a collegian, and his stroll charge over 205 1/3 minor league frames is a Lilliputian 2.7%. Known as as much as the large leagues final August, he proceeded to stroll simply 11 batters in 37 2/3 frames. That works out to 2.63 batters per 9 innings, or almost two extra walks per 9 than he had within the minors final yr, however don’t get too hung up on the small-sample spike.
Apart from, as I discussed up prime, there’s extra to Matthews than what has garnered him essentially the most consideration. Displaying higher stuff than many give him credit score for — his heater sits comfortably within the mid-90s — the 2022 eighth-round pick of Western Carolina College logged a 30.5% strikeout charge final yr within the minors, and within the majors that quantity was 27.8%. Nonetheless rookie eligible and with an opportunity to interrupt camp within the Twins’ beginning rotation, Matthews is the group’s prime pitching prospect.
Matthews mentioned the event of his underrated arsenal previous to a latest spring coaching recreation.
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David Laurila: Let’s begin together with your pitches. What’s your full repertoire?
Zebby Matthews: “I’ve a four-seam fastball that has some first rate keep it up it, a cutter, a gyro slider, a curveball, and a changeup.”
Laurila: How a lot carry do you get in your fastball?
Matthews: “It will depend on the beginning. Generally the axis kicks down slightly bit, however in good begins I get 18-19 [inches] on common. When it’s not nearly as good, my wrist place is down slightly, and as a substitute of a one o’clock or 1:15 axis, it’s round 1:30. These have a bit extra run than on my regular carry. I normally spin it very effectively, although.”
Laurila: How has your arsenal modified since coming to professional ball?
Matthews: “Out of school, I threw each a cutter and a slider, though whereas the velo differed, the actions sort of blended. Together with the fastball, these have been the one pitches I had. I suppose I had a changeup, however in my 4 years of school I may need thrown it twice, perhaps 3 times.”
Laurila: What have been the preliminary conversations you had with the group relating to your cutter and slider?
Matthews: “I already knew that they blended, and that hitters would be capable of [take advantage]. We performed across the first yr — my first full yr — making an attempt so as to add a sweeper, and simply preserve the cutter as is. However I struggled slightly bit with the sweeper, so we went again to the drafting board. I used to be capable of enhance the vert on the cutter, so we added again the gyro slider that I’d been throwing in school. With the ability to throw the gyro tougher was a aim, and I’ve been ready to do this to date.”
Laurila: Are you able to elaborate on getting extra vertical on the cutter?
Matthews: “Once I acquired to professional ball, I used to be throwing the cutter round six or seven [inches] vert — constructive vert — and with some I might solely get like three or 4. As soon as we determined we have been going so as to add again the gyro slider, I knew that I wanted to kick the vert up on it. Now it’s normally round 12 or 13.”
Laurila: How did you obtain that?
Matthews: “A grip adjustment. I caught the ball again in my hand slightly bit. As a substitute of simply pondering, ‘Get the center finger out entrance,’ I keep behind it slightly extra; it’s sort of like a fastball sort of really feel. Now I get about two or three [inches] glove facet.”
Laurila: What’s your finest pitch?
Matthews: “Whichever one the hitter swings and misses at that day? I don’t know. That’s all the time a troublesome query. I prefer to suppose the cutter, slider, and fastball are all good pitches. Clearly, you proceed to work on them — you need to make them higher — however these are undoubtedly three pitches that I really feel very assured in. I’m making an attempt to get that very same confidence with the curveball and the changeup.”
Laurila: I assume you speak with Pete [Maki] and your different pitching coaches about sequencing?
Matthews: “Sure. Sequencing is a big piece of pitching. I don’t suppose lots of youthful guys developing essentially know [how to do it effectively]. It’s sort of a realized commerce. Once I acquired to Triple-A there have been some veteran guys who helped train me the best way to sequence pitches, the best way to learn hitter’s swings, the best way to use that to my benefit. It’s not one thing I felt I’d been doing an excellent job of. I’m nonetheless engaged on it.”
Laurila: How do you stability scouting reviews with figuring out how every of your pitches play finest in sure zones?
Matthews: “How your pitches transfer, and what the information says about them, is clearly vital, however hitters are in the end going to inform you in the event that they like a pitch or not. Each hitter has pitches he’s actually good with, and pitches he struggles with. So, it’s very hitter dependent. It may also be depend dependent. There are lots of components. I don’t suppose you may simply spotlight one factor and be like, ‘OK, I can simply give attention to this and we’re going to be good.’ You’ve acquired to absorb all sides of it.”
Laurila: By and enormous, you’re a man who depends in your complete combine…
Matthews: “Yeah. I really feel like lots of starters try this. You may have your elite starters who can go on the market and dominate with two pitches, however there’s lots of a typical floor within the center the place you’re making an attempt to throw your full pitch combine and preserve hitters off stability. You employ that to your benefit.”
Laurila: These factor mentioned, is your stuff higher than lots of people suppose?
Matthews: “I don’t actually know. I imply, in the end you grade your stuff primarily based on what the hitters are telling you. If the hitters wrestle to hit it, you get some swing and miss, or they don’t hit it very exhausting, your pitches are performing effectively. So, I strive to not look an excessive amount of into what individuals say about my combine. I don’t get caught up in any of that. I simply go on the market and do my finest to get outs.”